The O’Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro competitors are hoping to take advantage of the ASP WQS season opener in hopes to gain points to put them atop the ASP WQS ratings for 2009. The top 15 surfers at the end of the grueling ASP WQS season earn a berth on to the coveted ASP World Tour, where they have the opportunity to compete at the apex of competitive surfing in a chance to earn an ASP World Title.

Lozano, who is known for charging his local break of the infamous Mexican Pipeline, demonstrated his ability to stand out in small waves as well with his convincing Round 2 heat victory in the choppy one-foot conditions in this afternoon’s competition.

“The waves are really hard,” Lozano said. “It’s cold, choppy, windy and everyone is sitting in the same area, but some of the set waves are opening up. I got that one that allowed me to do two good turns and I had three good quick turns on the other one. I was able to get waves with a good pocket and was really happy to get two good scores in the first 10 minutes.”

Lozano, who claimed the ASP WQS 3-Star PXM International Vans Pro in pumping six-to-eight foot Puerto Escondido last year in front of his home crowd, has been focusing his spare time training for small-wave conditions. The well rounded goofy-footer showed that his training is paying off by dominating his Round 2 heat in today’s challenging surf.

“I’m not used to these types of waves, but last year and the year before I’ve been trying to surf smaller choppier waves to do better in contests like this,” Lozano said. “We have really good waves at Puerto, it's my home break and I know it, but I’m really trying to improve in all types of waves.”

Sean Tubbs (Melbourne, FL), 22, got to work early today, blasting a massive tail-out turn on his opening wave as he worked to amass one of the day's highest heat totals of a 13.50 out of 20 in the opening heat of today’s action. The Sebastian Inlet local put his knowledge to good use in order to advance into Round 3.

“Conditions are pretty weak this morning, but considering this is my home break I kind of have an advantage,” Tubbs said. “It kind of gives you the wedge here more than anything and that’s why you surf here, for that little triangle.”

Tubbs is hoping to earn a good result here in front of his home crowd in order to get the ball rolling for his 2009 ASP WQS campaign.

“I’m trying to surf as many contest as possible in North America and then hoping to go over to Europe,” Tubbs said. “I’m hoping to move my way up from the bottom this year and I'd like to start with a good result here.”

Jody Davis (St. Augustine, FL), 29, dropped one of the event’s highest single wave scores of an 8.0 out of 10 in the second heat of the day with several explosive forehand turns on a wedgy Inlet lefthander. Davis put his competitive experience to good use, utilizing his patience to wait for the quality waves in his heat.

“Judges are giving the high scores on the bigger sets,” Davis said. “I was getting kind of sketched out because I didn’t catch a wave in the first 10 minutes and the younger groms were catching some of the smaller waves and getting a few flick-turns in. I got two of the bigger waves of the sets and it put me out in front.”

Ryan Helm (Jupiter, FL), 34, was another Floridian to utilize his small wave knowledge in the testing conditions today. The Sebastian Inlet local’s explosive surfing saw him earn a healthy heat victory over his fellow competitors in order to advance into Round 3.

“I was lucky to get a couple of good waves out there,” Helm said. “I think we (Floridians) spend a lot of time surfing in these types of conditions and it helps give us an advantage when it’s small. I grew up surfing here so I know this wave really well.”

Tomorrow’s O’Neill Sebastian Inlet Pro pres. by Ron Jon will see Round 3 hit the water at 8am. For all of the LIVE event action log on to www.oneillsipro.com